I'm Always Chasing Rainbows is a classic vaudeville song written by Harry Carroll with lyrics by Joseph McCarthy, published in 1917. The melody is an adaptation of Frederic Chopin's Fantaisie-Impromptu, and the piece was introduced on Broadway in the 1918 musical Oh, Look! where the Dolly Sisters sang it. It quickly became a popular standard with early hit recordings in 1918 by Charles W. Harrison, Harry Fox, and the Prince's Orchestra. A 1946 revival brought big chart success for Perry Como, Helen Forrest with Dick Haymes, and Harry James. Judy Garland performed the song in the 1941 film Ziegfeld Girl, and it has been covered by many artists over the years, including in the 1973 Irene revival cast album. The tune is commonly regarded as a melancholic pop standard about chasing happiness—often described as chasing rainbows rather than finding them.
